Comparative Analysis of The Determinants of Commercialization Levels between Male and Female Arable Crop Farmers in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria.

The study aimed to analyze the socio economic determinants of the level of commercialization between male and female crop farmers in Iwo local government area of Osun state.

A field survey consisting of 85 farmers were the registered arable crop farmers as other farmers specialized into other types of farming in the study area.

The result of the commercialization index revealed cassava as the most commercialized crop by both farmers. Also, farming households were categorized into quintiles with female farmers having the highest level of commercialization index, indicating high level of their participation  in the market frequently compared to male farmers. Based on the empirical results in this study, it was found out that farm profit significantly influenced the level of commercialization of female farmers unlike male farmers influenced by year of farming experience, farm size, inorganic fertilizer, farm profit, total output and access to credit. Increasing household income was identified as the ultimate benefit from commercialization.

As a whole, the rural farmers dwell on the use of traditional technology associated with low productivity, extension services which are not properly funded and lack of farmers access to agricultural inputs are the main barriers to commercialization. Further communication and policy modifications